ProtectEU: A European Internal Security Strategy
Summary
ProtectEU sets out EU internal-security action based on regular threat assessments and stronger operational capacity. It covers terrorism, organised crime, cyber-related and hybrid threats, with proposed changes involving Europol, Eurojust and Frontex. The strategy also calls for a European Critical Communication System, better protection of critical infrastructure and transport hubs, stronger cybersecurity, updated organised-crime and firearms rules, and closer operational cooperation with partner regions.
Action items
1–6 of 45 items
Source order · D = digital dimension- Item 1
EU Internal Security Threat Analyses: The Commission will produce and present regular threat analyses for EU internal security, drawing on SOCTA, TE-SAT, JCAR, and financial crime assessments, to inform agile and responsive security policy, feed into Security College discussions, and contribute to the all-hazards risk assessment under the Preparedness Union Strategy. [from 2025]
- Item 2
Commission Integrated Security Operations Centre (ISOC): The Commission will establish an Integrated Security Operations Centre to protect people, physical assets, and operations across all Commission sites, while revising its corporate security governance framework and boosting analytical capacity for identifying and mitigating hybrid threats. [from 2025]
- Item 3
Europol Mandate Overhaul: The Commission will present a legislative proposal to transform Europol into a fully operational police agency, expanding its mandate to cover sabotage, hybrid threats and information manipulation, strengthening its technological capacity, enhancing coordination with other agencies, and reinforcing oversight arrangements. [2026]
- Item 4
Eurojust Mandate Revision: The Commission will present a legislative proposal to strengthen Eurojust's mandate for more effective judicial cooperation, enhancing its analytical capacity and proactive support to national judiciaries, and deepening its complementarity and cooperation with Europol. [2026]
- Item 5
Frontex Reinforcement: The Commission will present a legislative proposal to reinforce Frontex's role and tasks, including tripling the European Border and Coast Guard to 30 000 over time, equipping it with advanced surveillance technology and intelligence capabilities, and strengthening its support for returns of third-country nationals posing security risks. [2026]
- Item 6
European Critical Communications System (EUCCS): A legislative proposal will establish a harmonised pan-European communications system linking Member States' next-generation critical communications networks, built on operational mobility, resilience and strategic autonomy, and extended via the IRIS² satellite system to ensure interoperability for first responders across borders. [2026]